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Rooney Votes to End Sanctuary Cities

Jun 29, 2017

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Tom Rooney (FL-17) proudly supported the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act (H.R. 3003) and Kate’s Law (H.R. 3004) which passed the House of Representatives. For years, the federal government has allowed so-called “sanctuary cities” to prioritize immigrants who are in this country unlawfully over the safety of American citizens. These important bills will hold sanctuary cities accountable and promote better cooperation between states and the federal government in order to properly enforce our nation’s immigration laws.

“Innocent American citizens deserve to know that law enforcement officials at all levels of government are following the law and ensuring illegal convicted felons are not being allowed back on the streets” Rooney said. “While we have much work to do to improve our nation’s immigration system, we owe it to the families of those who lost loved ones to take action now to stop such horrible and preventable crimes.”

In 2015, a young woman named Kate Steinle was murdered in San Francisco by an illegal immigrant, who had been deported back to Mexico five times and had multiple felony convictions before he was able to return to the U.S. to carry out this act of violence. San Francisco’s sanctuary policies failed Kate, the Steinle family and their entire community. H.R. 3004 – aptly titled Kate’s Law - increases the maximum sentencing for deported aliens who return to the United States, presenting a deterrent to attempts at reentry.

The House also passed H.R. 3003, The No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, which will ensure unlawful immigrants convicted of drunk driving, or arrested for other dangerous crimes, are detained during their removal proceedings and not released on bond.

Rooney voted in favor of both of these bills and is hopeful that the Senate will act quickly to send them to the President’s desk to be signed into law.